The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah 2024 begin on 7th June 2024. The 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) will be on 15th June 2024 and 10th Dhul Hijjah (Eid al Adha) will be on 16th June 2024.

As the holy month of Ramadan ends, you might find yourself yearning to maintain its spiritual warmth. Dhul Hijjah offers a magnificent opportunity to extend that feeling. These special days allow you to gain immense rewards, seek forgiveness, and strengthen your connection with Allah (SWT). Even if Hajj isn’t possible this year, there are numerous ways to reap the blessings of this special month, Insha’Allah.

Whoever is not able to go to Hajj should use this blessed time to complete even more righteous deeds than usual. These can include anything such as giving charity, honouring one’s parents, upholding the ties of kinship, and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.

This month holds immense blessings, even for those not performing Hajj. Here’s how to make the most of it:

Extra good deeds: Increase charity, strengthen family ties, and focus on righting wrongs. 

Deepen your worship: It is also important to enhance our obligatory acts of worship by being mindful of our prayers and ensuring we pay our Zakat on time.

Du’a: this is an ideal time to make Du’a that Allah grants us the opportunity to do so soon..

Fasting: The first 9 days and the Day of Arafah are highly recommended (consult a scholar if needed).

The Prophet used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of Ashura, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays.

Hadith | Abu Dawood, 2/462

• Remembrance:

Our Prophet  said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer  and tahmeed during them.” (Ahmad)

• Tahmeed: Al-hamdu Lillah (All praises be to God)
• Tahleel: Laa ilaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)
• Tasbeeh: Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to God)

• The Day of Arafah is on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah and is one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar. This year the Day of Arafah is expected to fall on Saturday 15th June 2024.
• On this day, it is believed that Allah (SWT) declared Islam a complete  His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and perfected way of life, signifying the culmination of divine revelation.

Allah (SWT) refers to this day in Surah al-Maidah of the Holy Qur’an.

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”

Quran | 5:3

• is also known as Yawm Al-Waqf (the Day of Standing), referring to the fact that pilgrims stand in front of their Lord for long periods of time, asking for His Divine Mercy.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also said:

There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ‘Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ‘Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.

Hadith | Muslim

• Arafah is also the day in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made his farewell sermon during his final pilgrimage and bore witness that Allah (SWT) perfected His religion, completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and approved Islam as a way of life! Subhan’Allah
• For those performing Hajj, the Day of Arafah is the most important day. As the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Hajj is Arafat” (Abu Dawud).

This holy day offers immense opportunity for spiritual growth. Here’s what you can do:

• Fast: It is highly recommended to fast the Day of Arafah if one is not performing Hajj. Fasting on this day is Sunnah and expiates sins of the previous year and the coming year. It is a powerful way to gain blessings and become closer to Allah (SWT).  
• Increase Worship: Dhikr, extra prayers, Quran recitation – devote yourself to Allah.
  The best acts of Dhikr on this day include offering Nafl (optional) prayers, reading Qur’an and sending Salawat (salutations) upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).
• Make Dua: The Day of Arafah is a day of acceptance of Dua and Allah showers His mercy and forgiveness to those who turn to Him. It is also Sunnah to recite the Tahleel (Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar)and Tahmeed (Alhamdulillaah) frequently on the Day of Arafah, and on the days of Eid – 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
• Give Sadaqah: Giving Sadaqah is one of the most virtuous acts of worship, and giving Sadaqah on this holy day can help us gain blessings. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire” (Hadith | Timidhi). 

Together, let’s amplify the blessings of this special day.

Reflect & Be Thankful: The Day of Arafah is also a blessed time to reflect on the blessings that Allah (SWT) has provided us with, and to thank Him.

-Following the Prophet’s tradition (Sunnah): Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to fast during the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah. By doing this, Muslims show respect and emulation for his practices.
-Increased blessings and forgiveness: Dhul Hijjah is a particularly holy month. Fasting during this time is believed to bring Muslims closer to Allah and increase their chances of having sins forgiven. This is especially true on the Day of Arafah, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah.
-Spiritual discipline and self-improvement: Fasting is a way for Muslims to train themselves in self-control and focus on their spiritual well-being. It allows them to detach from worldly desires and concentrate on their connection with Allah.

“As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allah descends to the sky of the Dunya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.”
Hadith | Tabarani

Unlike Ramadan, fasting during the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah isn’t obligatory. However, it’s highly encouraged because it’s a chance to gain even more blessings during this especially holy month. It’s also following the tradition (Sunnah) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• -Voluntary Fasting: In the Islamic lunar calendar month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims are encouraged to observe voluntary fasts during the first nine days. While not obligatory like fasting during Ramadan, this practice is considered highly meritorious and aligns with the Sunnah (tradition) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
• -Eid al-Adha: The tenth day of Dhul Hijjah marks the joyous celebration of Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Fasting is prohibited on this day, in accordance with the Hadith traditions. Muslims traditionally commemorate Eid al-Adha through prayers, recitation of the Quran, acts of charity, and festive gatherings with family and friends. Increased acts of worship, particularly during the night preceding Eid, are also encouraged